I saw something of a mystery crop up this last weekend when I saw the weigh-in/check-in of the athletes for the Arnold Amateur. I was very surprised and confused to see Maria Segura competing as a HW in this show. Wanting to be sure that my suspicions were correct I double-checked the stats over at bodybuilding.com, and they confirm that Maria did indeed win the overall at the IFBB North Americans last year. According to the rules that victory SHOULD have won her a pro card. So why was it that a newly-minted IFBB pro was competing at the Arnold AMATEUR show?? Later on I encountered both Melody Spetko and Kim Birtch in the lobby, and they told me something I had never heard before. Apparently meeting the requirements for pro card status (winning the class, overall, etc) at the show isn't enough. The winner has to then APPLY for pro card status with the IFBB, and the IFBB apparently reserves the right to approve or reject the application. That being said, has anyone heard of the reason why Maria's application was (apparently) rejected?? Or did she simply choose not to become a IFBB pro and remaing in the amateur ranks?? I've heard nothing.